Pressure is back on India

By Vijay Lokapally

KANPUR, DEC 10. Nothing changes at the Green Park on the eve of a one-day international. Not one organising official to be traced; The same frenzy for tickets and passes; the same curator putting his soul into preparing a bowler's graveyard; the same confusion; and the same chaos. Students on rampage, breaking glasses and stoning vehicles on being told the tickets have been sold out. It hardly matters if the man in the car is Match Referee Barry Jarman. Welcome to Kanpur. It is cricket time again, and absolute pandemonium, even if the match involves two teams engaged in a process of transition.

For those who thought this was the time when sponsors could be weaned away from cricket, following the match-fixing scandal, nothing could be more shattering than the passionate response to the India-Zimbabwe one-day series. The reaction from the cricket loving people has been astounding and the Indian team is very much aware of the expectations. The loss at Jodhpur is being dismissed as a ``bad dream'' by skipper Sourav Ganguly but the fact remains that nothing less than a victory here would bring cheers to the dressing room, especially Sachin Tendulkar.

In the closing stages of the game at Jodhpur, Tendulkar presented a sad picture, as he stood alone in the outfield, watching his bowlers disintegrate, and wondering how much more would be need to contribute to ensure an Indian victory. ``The bowlers were awful'' conceded Ganguly as he took stock of the situation at the end of the `nets' session here on Sunday.

This is what Ganguly had to say of the tested and trusted Indian attack. ``We didn't bowl too well. We played badly after getting Zimbabwe down to 214 for six. If their lower order got heavy runs under pressure it means there was something wrong with the way we bowled.''

As a remedy, the Indian skipper said he would play the two newcomers into the team - Virender Sehwag and Aashish Kapoor - to pep up the attack, indicating there was no room in the scheme of things for Sunil Joshi, S. Sriram and Reetender Singh Sodhi. ``We have to go in with three seamers who have to bowl at the right spot'' said Ganguly. They better, especially veteran Venkatesh Prasad was slammed around the park when the skipper placed faith in his experience. Prasad looked no better than Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar.

The Indians spent most of their training session in learning the basics of running between wickets and catching and fielding. ``We have to improve these aspects of our cricket to achieve better results'' said the Indian skipper, who continued to glorify the young talent available - Yuveraj Singh, especially. ``He is too good a player. And so are the youngsters. Let us give them more time. I would request everyone to leave these youngsters alone and let them play because they have the ability.''

On the challenge lying tomorrow, Ganguly observe ``the pressure is back on us and we have to win tomorrow to avoid carrying the suspense of wrapping up the series to Rajkot. I have always said Zimbabwe is a dangerous side and it came back well under pressure at Jodhpur.''

The Zimbabweans, quite understandably, and quite expectedly, are bouncing with energy. They did not mind the irritating wait for their kits to arrive this morning from the Amausi Airport in Lucknow. Last night, a mix-up of luggage had prevented the Zimbabweans from practising at the Green Park and this morning they spent most of the time playing rugby, their kit still held up at Lucknow. Skipper Heath Streak joked ``I am sure it isn't intentional. We are relieved the kit has arrived'' as his mates had an extended practice.

``The victory (at Jodhpur) was a big boost'' said a beaming Streak. ``The confidence level has increased even though we know one can't be complacent against the Indians. We know they will try to get back hard. They didn't bowl as well as they are capable of'' Streak added as he spoke highly of the temperament exhibited by Mluleki Nkala in those tense moments when Zimbabwe embarrassed the India.

Zimbabwe, in that glorious moment at Jodhpur, did give the impression of a team which looks desperate to win, but often ends up adopting avoidable desperate measures to accomplish its mission. The reliance on the Flower brothers, Andy and Grant, and of course Alistair Campbell is too much. Streak is aware of it. As he is of India's dependance on the top three.

Sachin Tendulkar, Ganguly and Rahul Dravid have not felt any relief in the pressure on them to give the innings the right direction. One of the three has to try and bat through to ensure the batting does not come apart in the middle overs where Yuveraj has miserably failed to understand the difference in domestic and international cricket. ``He has no footwork'' South African great Barry Richards had announced some time back but Yuveraj appears to lack the basic requirement of a steady head when playing at this level. Extremely lucky to retain his place, one hopes he comes good in this match, to at least help his skipper save some face after having backed the Punjab batsman all the way.

Similar will be the pressure on Kapoor, who returns to the side after four years. ``He deserved a place because he has bowled well in domestic cricket'' informed Ganguly on Kapoor's selection. For Sehwag, the chance comes out of the blue. The injury to Shiv Sunder Das compelled the National selectors to take a second look at this gifted striker of the ball, who should do well with some guidance from the seniors.

The tracks appears a belter. ``A good batting side'' commented Streak. ``A beauty'' said Ganguly, visualising a long innings tomorrow. ``Full of runs'' reacted selector Madan Lal, with a few shadow drives to emphasise where the runs lay. In the distance, the bowlers had a lost look in their eyes, a distinct worry dominating their thinking on the task ahead.

Green Park has always been a challenge for the bowlers with batsmen making merry. Just as organising an international event has been for the officials of the local association, with all and sundry demanding free entry. As the teams left for the cosy comforts of their hotel rooms, the policemen got busy with a briefing organised to specify their roles on the day of the match. Outside, more missiles flew around, reminding you how nothing had changed at the Green Park.

The teams (From) : India : Sourav Ganguly (Captain), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuveraj Singh, Hemang Badani, Virender Sehwag, Vijay Dahiya, Ajit Agarkar, Sunil Joshi, Aashish Kapoor, Venkatesh Prasad, Sunil Joshi, S. Sriram and Reetender Singh Sodhi.

Zimbabwe : Heath Streak (Captain), Guy Whittall, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Alistair Campbell, Stuart Carlisle, Gavin Rennie, Douglas Marillier, Travis Friend, Trevor Madondo, Mlukeli Nkala, Brian Murphy, Bryan Strang, Henry Olonga and Dirk Viljoen.

Umpires : Messrs C. K. Sathe and Devendra Sharma; Third umpire : Mr. G. A. Pratap Kumar; Fourth umpire : Mr. S. Lakshmanan; Match Referee : Mr. Barry Jarman.

Hours of play : 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.; 1.10 p.m. onwards.

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